APPENDIX 2: MODERN CONSTELLATION NAMES

LATIN/MODERN NAME

TRANSLATION FROM LATIN

TRANSLATION FROM GREEK

Andromeda

Andromeda

Andromeda

Antlia

Pump

 

Apus

Bird of Paradise

 

Aquarius

Water Bearer

Water Bearer

Aquila

Eagle

Eagle

Ara

Altar

Incense Altar

Argo Navis*

The Ship Argo

Argo

Aries

Ram

Ram

Auriga

Charioteer

Charioteer

Bootes

Bootes

Bootes

Caelum

Chisel

 

Camelopardalis

Giraffe

 

Cancer

Crab

Crab

Canes Venatici

Hunting Dogs

 

Canis Major

Big Dog

Dog

Canis Minor

Little Dog

Herald of the Dog

Capricornus

Goat Horn

Goat Horn

Carina

Ship’s Keel

 

Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia

Centaurus

Centaur

Centaur

Cepheus

Cepheus

Cepheus

Cetus

Sea Monster

Sea Monster

Chamaeleon

Chameleon

 

Circinus

Compass for Drawing

 

Columba

Dove

 

Coma Berenices

Berenice’s Hair

 

Corona Australis

Southern Wreath

Southern Wreath

Corona Borealis

Northern Wreath

Northern Wreath

Corvus

Crow

Crow

Crater

Wine Mixing Bowl

Crater

Crux

Cross

 

Cygnus

Swan

Bird

Delphinus

Dolphin

Dolphin

Dorado

Swordfish

 

Draco

Dragon

Dragon

Equuleus

Little Horse

Horse Head

Eridanus

Eridanus

River

Fornax

Furnace

 

Gemini

Twins

Twins

Grus

Crane

 

Hercules

Hercules

Kneeler

Horologium

Clock

 

Hydra

Hydra

Hydra

Hydrus

Water Snake

 

Indus

Indian

 

Lacerta

Lizard

 

Leo

Lion

Lion

Leo Minor

Little Lion

 

Lepus

Hare

Hare

Libra

Scales

Claws

Lupus

Wolf

Wild Animal

Lynx

Lynx

 

Lyra

Lyre

Lyre

Mensa

Table

 

Microscopium

Microscope

 

Monoceros

Unicorn

 

Musca

Fly

 

Norma

Level

 

Octans

Octant

 

Ophiuchus

Snake Holder

Snake Holder

Orion

Orion

Orion

Pavo

Peacock

 

Pegasus

Pegasus

Horse

Perseus

Perseus

Perseus

Phoenix

Phoenix

 

Pictor

Painter’s Easel

 

Pisces

Fishes

Fishes

Piscis Austrinus

Southern Fish

Southern Fish

Puppis

Ship’s Stern

 

Pyxis

Ship’s Compass

 

Reticulum

Net

 

Sagitta

Arrow

Arrow

Sagittarius

Archer

Archer

Scorpius

Scorpion

Scorpion

Sculptor

Sculptor

 

Scutum

Shield

 

Serpens

Snake

Snake

Sextans

Sextant

 

Taurus

Bull

Bull

Telescopium

Telescope

 

Triangulum

Triangle

Triangle

Triangulum Australe

Southern Triangle

 

Tucana

Toucan

 

Ursa Major

Big Bear

Bear

Ursa Minor

Little Bear

Little Bear

Vela

Ship’s Sail

 

Virgo

Virgin

Maiden

Volans

Flying Fish

 

Vulpecula

Little Fox

 

*Argo Navis is not one of the eighty-eight modern constellations, but it numbers among the forty-eight classical Greek constellations. In the eighteenth century, it was divided into the modern constellations of Vela, Carina, Pyxis, Puppis, and the star, Eta Columbae.